My desert island countdown continues (see Monday’s post for the full explanation).
Desert Island Musical Artists – #2 – Elvis Costello
Costello would be a strong candidate if I could bring only one musical artist to my desert island, because his discography has spanned so many genres.
Punk, country, rock, pop, folk, classical, easy listening, jazz, funk — he’s a one-man record store. And I could spend many a moonlit night trying to dig out the meanings in his kaleidoscopic lyrics.
Desert Island TV Series – #2 – Friday Night Lights
I’ve been yearning to revisit this series since it went off the air in 2011. Its first season, in particular, is simply flawless. This depiction of a small town full of big dreams is visual poetry, and the performances of Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton as Eric and Tami Taylor are flawless.
The second season hit a couple of rough patches but the show quickly righted the ship and deftly cycled in new cast members as original characters moved on. No better portrait of a marriage has ever been put on screen.
It’s funny that this show about football never really got the football right (every game seems to come down to the last play). But that never mattered, because the show wasn’t about football — it was about what it means to be a husband, a wife, a father, a mother, a teacher and a coach. And how if you approach life with clear eyes and a full heart, you can’t lose.
Desert Island Movie Directors – #2 – Woody Allen
The man has made 46 movies (including this year’s Magic in the Moonlight, which will come out just in time for my trip to the island). The volume of his output alone puts him on this list, ’cause I’ll need product, baby.
But consider how many outright masterpieces sit among those 46 — my favorites, in no particular order, are Hannah and Her Sisters, Annie Hall, Manhattan and Radio Days — and how many laugh-out-loud comedies (Bananas, Sleeper, Love and Death, Manhattan Murder Mystery).
Sure, he’s released his share of duds. I doubt I’d watch Curse of the Jade Scorpion even after years on the island. But he’s had many more hits than misses, and I can’t imagine leaving the mainland without him.
there is a vacancy waiting in the English voodoo,
carving “v” for vandal on the guilty boy’s head.
When he’s had enough of that maybe you’ll take him to bed
to teach him he’s alive before he wishes he was dead.
Turn up the TV. No one listening will suspect,
even your mother won’t detect it,
no your father won’t know.
they think that I’ve got no respect
but everything means less than zero.
Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey.
Oswald and his sister are doing it again.
They’ve got the finest home movies that you have ever seen.
They’ve got a thousand variations: every service with a smile.
They’re gonna take a little break, and they’ll be back after a while.
well I hear that South America is coming into style.
(Chorus)
A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor.
Mister Oswald said he had an understanding with the law.
He said he heard about a couple living in the USA.
He said they traded in their baby for a Chevrolet.
Let’s talk about the future now we’ve put the past away.
(Chorus)
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m on board with all these selections. At this point, this island is actually sounding more like a resort than a prison. Does the island have a nice restaurant and casino? Sign me up!
Imagine if you could bring along your five favorite restaurants, too. This would start looking more and more like a paradise rather than a curse.
I would include Woody Allen for sure, even if it only meant that I’d get to watch Hannah and Her Sisters and Annie Hall again and again. The fact that I’d also have Bananas and Take the Money and Run if I really needed a pick me up and Interiors if I was ready to end it all is just an added perk 🙂
Elvis, I’d likely take. And, of course, FNL is an automatic!
Great choices, but Woody Allen is the best one of all!!
It makes me so happy to see your choice of Woody Allen whom I love dearly. I often find myself talking to those who will no longer see his movies based on all that scandalous stuff. It drives me crazy. I can only judge his work which is brilliant.